A 19-year-old man is in stable condition at a Gwinnett County hospital after an early Sunday stabbing in Murrayville.

“A couple of individuals were sitting on a porch outside of a residence, when they were approached by an unknown male, who came into the yard and asked for a cigarette,” said Sgt. Stephen Wilbanks, Hall County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

“At some point, an argument ensued and that turned into a physical altercation, and the victim was stabbed at least one time in the abdominal area.”

He was taken by air ambulance to Gwinnett Medical Center.

After the incident, the suspect ran away from the scene — the 6000 block of Glenn-Burtz Road, off Yellow Creek Road — and deputies were unable to find him, Wilbanks said.

“Investigators are following up today on all leads and information, trying to establish the suspect’s identity,” he added.